Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 8:41 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — It's been hard work, but worth the effort running Vince Carter's restaurant, says Michelle Carter-Scott, co-owner of the Daytona Beach eatery and mother of its namesake, the Mainland High graduate-turned-NBA star who now plays for the Dallas Mavericks.

Vince Carter's restaurant celebrated its third anniversary on Jan. 22. Carter-Scott said she and her son invested $12 million into the restaurant as their gift to Volusia County and soon plan to invest another million dollars in the business.

The restaurant offers lunch and appetizers running from $7 to $14 and dinner entrees running from $14 to $28.

Vince Carter's is at 2150 LPGA Blvd., just east of Interstate 95. The restaurant, which has seating for more than 400 diners, employs approximately 70 people, down from 135 when it opened in 2010. Carter-Scott said the reduction in staffing was done largely through attrition.

Running Vince Carter's isn't Carter-Scott's only job, the former Volusia County Schools educator is also executive director of the Embassy of Hope Foundation, a charity that she and her son established in 1998 to help local needy children and families.

Carter-Scott spoke with the News-Journal about the success of the restaurant and her famous son's dining habits:

What inspired you and your son to open Vince Carter's?

Vince initially wanted to open a jazz club, but I said no. That means staying up too late and I didn't know if Daytona Beach would respond well to a jazz club. When he suggested a restaurant instead, I knew it was a good thing. It's a lot of hard work, but it's a wonderful thing when you work at it.

Why put a restaurant on LPGA?

You're probably wondering, "Why not ISB (International Speedway Boulevard)?" I didn't want the restaurant on International Speedway because when big events come to town, locals tend to lock themselves in, and it's difficult to get them to restaurants that aren't congested. We wanted to put the restaurant in a place that would make it easy access from I-95. Vince Carter's is our gift to the locals, and we wanted to make sure everyone would have access.

How did Vince Carter's survive the recession, especially with a $12 million investment that takes time to recoup?

We paid very close attention to food costs. For instance, if we made turkey and use all of it, we would make turkey soups, salads, and so on. And I always tell my managers, look at the women in the restaurant to see if they are covering with a shawl or sweater — if all the women look too cold, that's an indication to raise the thermostat, which also saves money. Another thing was allowing the staff to leave through attrition, and not hiring any more people when they left.

What is your goal for the restaurant in 2013?

Increase sales, and awareness of our prices. Our biggest problem is getting people to understand that we aren't wildly overpriced. Oftentimes people see the outside of the restaurant and think they can't afford it. Because we don't have a timeline for a recovery of our investment, we don't have the same pressure that others have to recoup — so we can keep prices down.

What's your favorite restaurant besides your own?

Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Staying on the topic of food, what does Vince eat before every game?

He doesn't have a ritual, but he always eats pasta with some kind of meat added — he loves chicken and sea bass, but definitely some kind of pasta.

What is your and Vince's favorite item on the menu?

His favorite is either the VC's New Zealand Lamb Chops or Pasta "Vinsanity." My favorite is either the Carolina Shrimp & Grits or the VC's New Zealand Lamb Chops.

What is Vince's favorite meal that you make for him?

Baked mac-and-cheese, and pigeon peas and rice — which is chicken roasted, then fried, then smothered with collard greens. His favorite dessert is chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cake. He's a sucker for chocolate chip cookies and red velvet.

Please explain your work with the Embassy of Hope Foundation.

Our focus is children and families. We have an annual Christmas Food Basket giveaway, where we give 115 food baskets, based off of Vince's former (NBA player) number, 15.

Our next project is our gathering gently used women's clothing for women to use at job interviews. We are organizing that with Avenues 12 Recovery House and the Domestic Abuse Council.

So how do you organize three jobs?

Take it one day at a time, go forward with gusto. I'm a Virgo so I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I don't leave a task until it is done to my satisfaction. I have to get it right.

Last, and most important question, when will Vince retire from the NBA?

There's no set date for retirement, because he's still productive (as a professional basketball player). When he's not productive anymore, you'll start to hear him talk about retirement. Though when those days come, he is leaning towards broadcasting.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; It's been hard work, but worth the effort running Vince Carter's restaurant, says Michelle Carter-Scott, co-owner of the Daytona Beach eatery and mother of its namesake, the Mainland High graduate-turned-NBA star who now plays for the Dallas Mavericks. </p><p>Vince Carter's restaurant celebrated its third anniversary on Jan. 22. Carter-Scott said she and her son invested $12 million into the restaurant as their gift to Volusia County and soon plan to invest another million dollars in the business. </p><p>Despite the restaurant's swank appearance, Carter-Scott said, "Our food is cheaper than some fast food places &mdash; I wish people knew that." </p><p>The restaurant offers lunch and appetizers running from $7 to $14 and dinner entrees running from $14 to $28.</p><p>Vince Carter's is at 2150 LPGA Blvd., just east of Interstate 95. The restaurant, which has seating for more than 400 diners, employs approximately 70 people, down from 135 when it opened in 2010. Carter-Scott said the reduction in staffing was done largely through attrition.</p><p>Running Vince Carter's isn't Carter-Scott's only job, the former Volusia County Schools educator is also executive director of the Embassy of Hope Foundation, a charity that she and her son established in 1998 to help local needy children and families. </p><p>Carter-Scott spoke with the News-Journal about the success of the restaurant and her famous son's dining habits:</p><p> </p><p><b>What inspired you and your son to open Vince Carter's?</b></p><p> </p><p>Vince initially wanted to open a jazz club, but I said no. That means staying up too late and I didn't know if Daytona Beach would respond well to a jazz club. When he suggested a restaurant instead, I knew it was a good thing. It's a lot of hard work, but it's a wonderful thing when you work at it.</p><p> </p><p><b>Why put a restaurant on LPGA?</b></p><p> </p><p>You're probably wondering, "Why not ISB (International Speedway Boulevard)?" I didn't want the restaurant on International Speedway because when big events come to town, locals tend to lock themselves in, and it's difficult to get them to restaurants that aren't congested. We wanted to put the restaurant in a place that would make it easy access from I-95. Vince Carter's is our gift to the locals, and we wanted to make sure everyone would have access.</p><p> </p><p><b>How did Vince Carter's survive the recession, especially with a $12 million investment that takes time to recoup?</p><p> </p><p>We paid very close attention to food costs. For instance, if we made turkey and use all of it, we would make turkey soups, salads, and so on. And I always tell my managers, look at the women in the restaurant to see if they are covering with a shawl or sweater &mdash; if all the women look too cold, that's an indication to raise the thermostat, which also saves money. Another thing was allowing the staff to leave through attrition, and not hiring any more people when they left.</p><p> </p><p><b>What is your goal for the restaurant in 2013?</b></p><p> </p><p>Increase sales, and awareness of our prices. Our biggest problem is getting people to understand that we aren't wildly overpriced. Oftentimes people see the outside of the restaurant and think they can't afford it. Because we don't have a timeline for a recovery of our investment, we don't have the same pressure that others have to recoup &mdash; so we can keep prices down.</p><p> </p><p><b>What's your favorite restaurant besides your own?</b></p><p> </p><p>Ruth's Chris Steak House.</p><p> </p><p><b>Staying on the topic of food, what does Vince eat before every game?</b></p><p> </p><p>He doesn't have a ritual, but he always eats pasta with some kind of meat added &mdash; he loves chicken and sea bass, but definitely some kind of pasta.</p><p> </p><p><b>What is your and Vince's favorite item on the menu?</b></p><p> </p><p>His favorite is either the VC's New Zealand Lamb Chops or Pasta "Vinsanity." My favorite is either the Carolina Shrimp & Grits or the VC's New Zealand Lamb Chops. </p><p> </p><p><b>What is Vince's favorite meal that you make for him?</b></p><p> </p><p>Baked mac-and-cheese, and pigeon peas and rice &mdash; which is chicken roasted, then fried, then smothered with collard greens. His favorite dessert is chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cake. He's a sucker for chocolate chip cookies and red velvet.</p><p> </p><p><b>Please explain your work with the Embassy of Hope Foundation.</b></p><p> </p><p>Our focus is children and families. We have an annual Christmas Food Basket giveaway, where we give 115 food baskets, based off of Vince's former (NBA player) number, 15. </p><p>Our next project is our gathering gently used women's clothing for women to use at job interviews. We are organizing that with Avenues 12 Recovery House and the Domestic Abuse Council.</p><p> </p><p><b>So how do you organize three jobs?</b></p><p> </p><p>Take it one day at a time, go forward with gusto. I'm a Virgo so I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I don't leave a task until it is done to my satisfaction. I have to get it right.</p><p> </p><p><b>Last, and most important question, when will Vince retire from the NBA?</b></p><p> </p><p>There's no set date for retirement, because he's still productive (as a professional basketball player). When he's not productive anymore, you'll start to hear him talk about retirement. Though when those days come, he is leaning towards broadcasting.</p>